As state ramps up reliance on solar, it looks at new ways to meet goals
With the state ramping up its reliance on solar energy, there is now a push to overhaul how New Jersey goes about meeting its aggressive goals to increase its dependence on renewable energy.
The proposal, first floated by the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, would no longer require power suppliers to meet mandates, known as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), in the electricity they supply to utilities in an annual auction conducted each February. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
Norcross: Rutgers-Rowan partnership ‘most important thing’ for Camden in 50 years
When both houses of the Legislature passed a complex bit of legislation to merge parts of New Jersey’s three largest universities, it was a proud moment for George E. Norcross III, for whom the announcement represented the culmination of a decade’s worth of work.
“This is the most important thing to happen in the city of Camden for 50 years,” said Norcross, the influential power broker who runs Conner, Strong & Buckelew and chairs the board of Cooper University Hospital. “A lot of people came together and did the impossible by June 30, (which) every talking head predicted would never happen.” (Waters, NJBIZ)
Business advocates praise Christie’s line-item vetoes
Gov. Chris Christie’s move to veto $361 million from the state’s $31.7 billion budget drew immediate praise from business advocates on Friday evening.
The line-item vetoes by the governor trimmed spending across a range of services, including medical services in nursing homes. Christie preserved $347.5 million in business tax cuts, including an additional $163.5 million in cuts on top of the $184 million in the fiscal year ending on Saturday.
“It’s a pro-business budget; continues the governor’s quest of job creation and creating a better economic climate; and doesn’t raise taxes,” said Michael Egenton, senior vice president for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. He noted that the budget is similar to the one Christie initially proposed. (Kitchenman, NJBIZ)
Lawmakers and education advocates came to a remarkable compromise in forging an overhaul of tenure laws to make it easier for public schools to oust ineffective educators. But building a consensus meant dropping a change that most other states have already made: making teachers’ effectiveness a factor in determining which lose their jobs in case of layoffs.
Gov. Christie, who opposes using seniority to determine layoffs, is still deciding whether he can accept the compromise.
If he vetoes the bill, he will undo a deal among a unanimous Legislature and groups that do not often agree on the details of improving schools. (Mulvihill, Associated Press)
N.J. Assembly members divided on giving up Sumner Vacation and attending Monday special session called by Christie
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald said he and other leaders in the lower house haven’t figured out if most Assembly Democrats will voluntarily come to the special session Gov. Chris Christie has called.
“We’re continuing to talk to members. Leadership is right now asking if people will be there,” said Greenwald (D-Camden). “We’re waiting for word back from our members as who can be there so we can guarantee a quorum.”
Christie yesterday summoned the Legislature back to the Statehouse for a special session, upset that they did not pass legislation enabling a tax cut that would take effect in January. Instead, Democrats have said they will enact the cut if Christie meets his optimistic revenue projections. (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)
Christie makes good on veto threat for $31.7 billion N.J. budget
Governor Chris Christie, with little more than a day to go to meet a statutory deadline, erased $361 million in Democratic spending initiatives before he signed a $31.7 billion New Jersey budget for fiscal 2013.
The first-term Republican vetoed what he described as measures that “represented a step backward” by Democrats, in a statement sent from his office yesterday. The spending plan includes $347 million in tax relief for businesses and $1.03 billion for state pensions, according to the statement. (Young and Dopp, Bloomberg)
Ridgewood Water says DEP Fine is a result of Residents who ignore Water Restrictions
July 2,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said Ridgewood Water Company exceeded its water allocation by 60.1 million gallons.
The company was quick to point out that Ridgewood Water Company was fined because too many residents disregard water conservation rules and fail to pay attention to the summer water restrictions imposed by the Village.
Frank Moritz told the Ridgewood News ,”We put in watering restricting and we put them in every year, “It’s voluntary and we did it in 2010 but the sprinklers go on and keep going on.”
There was no mention of the fact that water restrictions have become a permanent part of summer vacation in the Village for the last 10 years , or any speculation on the water use of the BOE or Valley Hospital . It has been alleged that the BOE has been know from time to time to time to leave sprinklers on whether willfully or just by mistake ignoring the watering bans.
Ridgewood Water services over 20,000 households in Glen Rock, Wyckoff, Midland Park and Ridgewood and is currently embroiled in a rate lawsuit brought on by Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff customers who allege the the Villages own bad fiances have been covered up by over sized commingled rate increases at Ridgewood Water.
According the the Ridgewood News Moritz and Ridgewood Water have been negotiating with the state Department of Environmental Protection to reduce the $38,000 fine, which the DEP hit the company with for using 60.1 million gallons more than they were allowed in 2010.
Critics of Ridgewood Water like to point out the antiquated pumping infrastructure caused by the lack on investment over the last 20 years and heavy federal ,state and local regulation make the utility more of an albatross and an asset to the Village .
Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli are officially sworn in to the Village Council
July 12012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli were officially sworn in at Sundays Village Council reorganization meeting.
There were no big surprises Paul Aronsohn was appointed Mayor, Albert Pucciarelli appointed Deputy Mayor. Matt Rogers reappointed as Village Attorney, and a litany of appointments to the various Village boards were also made . U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez administered the oaths of office .
Some changes were made to Village Council committees; Gwen Hauck is now liaison to Parks & Rec and Bernie Walsh assumes the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee leadership now that Keith is gone.Both former Mayor Killion and Councilman Stephen Wellinghorst were praised by residents and council alike . Former Mayor Keith Killion received a standing ovation as he left the dais.
Now Mayor Aronsohn made his first public speech as mayor, and vowed to work on the revitalizing the business community, fix the permitting process, fill store vacancies, and take a closer look at pedestrian safety.
In his remarks U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was very complimentary to Ridgewood’s non partisan form of government.
Both the ceremony and reception were well attended and there was a standing room only crowd .
Sorry Charlie :Ballot issues arise after Rangel’s apparent primary win
CNN Political Unit
(CNN) – While Rep. Charles Rangel of New York celebrates a major primary victory this week – his toughest challenge in 42 years – the state is stepping in on ballot complaints that could wind up changing the results.
New unofficial numbers released Saturday night by the New York City Board of Elections show Rangel ahead of his main challenger, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, by only two percentage points – 44% to 42% – with just 802 votes separating them and more than 3,000 votes unaccounted for.
Chronic pain is determined by emotions, scientists believe
Emotions may determine why some people are more likely to suffer chronic pain than others, a study has found.
By Telegraph reporters6:00PM BST 01 Jul 2012
The emotional state of the brain can explain why different individuals do not respond the same way to similar injuries, say scientists.
Some recover fully while others remain in constant pain.
Brain scan studies showed for the first time how chronic pain emerges as a result of an emotional response to an injury.
The process involves interaction between two brain regions, the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens.
Lead scientist Professor Vania Apakarian, from Northwestern University in Chicago, US, said: ”The injury itself is not enough to explain the ongoing pain. It has to do with the injury combined with the state of the brain.”
WSJ CHIEF ECONOMIST: 75% OF OBAMACARE COSTS WILL FALL ON BACKS OF THOSE MAKING LESS THAN $120K A YEAR
By: Jim Hoft
6/30/2012 11:44 AM
Take Your Medicine, America…
Stephen Moore, Senior Economics Writer with the Wall Street Journal, told FOX and Friends this morning that nearly 75% of Obamacare costs will fall on the backs of those Americans making less than $120,000 a year.
D.C. area power outages after storm could last for days
By Donna St. George, Ted Trautman and Mihir Zaveri, Updated: Sunday, July 1, 12:22 PM
As the temperature crept past 90 degrees at noon on Sunday, the number left to swelter without out power in the Washington region crept down by degrees, but many people will be without air conditioning, lights and refrigeration for days to come.
The number without power was dropping by the hour — 739,187 at noon, down by almost 40,000 since 8:30 a.m. — but many people were forced to seek refuge in malls, coffee shops and emergency shelters.
NJ TRANSIT OFFERS EXTRA SERVICE AND SAVINGS FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
Money-saving Family Super Saver Fare in effect continuously from June 29 until July 9
June 27, 2012
NJT-12-051
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT today announced a special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult. Usually limited to weekends and holidays, the Family Super Saver Fare will be in effect continuously from 7 p.m. Friday, June 29 until 6 a.m. Monday, July 9, on all trains (except for travel to/from Metro-North stations), buses and light rail lines in honor of Independence Day.
In addition, NJ TRANSIT will offer extra service in advance of Independence Day and on the holiday itself to give customers more travel options, whether leaving work early to get a head start on festivities or attending fireworks displays on the Fourth of July.
On Friday, June 29, extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on more than two dozen bus routes starting around noon. Visit njtransit.com for details.
On Tuesday, July 3, extra outbound trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines starting at approximately 1 p.m. Extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on more than two dozen bus routes starting around noon. Visit njtransit.com for details.
On Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule. River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information.
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Service
To accommodate spectators traveling to the New Jersey Waterfront to view the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display over the Hudson River, NJ TRANSIT will supplement existing weekend rail service on the Morris & Essex Lines with additional trains to and from Hoboken Terminal. An additional trip will also operate to Hoboken on the Port Jervis Line. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate additional trips between Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken starting after 4 p.m.
Also on July 4, extra trips will operate to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on selected bus routes.
Detailed service information is available at njtransit.com/fireworks.
Summer Savings
With the summer season in full swing, now is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags Great Adventure and Monmouth Park:
Beach Packages: Save up to $6.50 on admission to one of five beaches— Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar—by purchasing round-trip train fare and a beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows. Customers can purchase the package for $31.50 from New York Penn Station or any station on the Main, Bergen County or Pascack Valley lines (except from Metro-North stations), and for $23.50 from Hoboken Terminal or Newark Penn Station.
o Shore EZride Jitney provides shuttle service to beaches, shopping and dining locations in Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach Friday through Sunday. Starting July 4, NJ TRANSIT customers can ride the jitney FREE on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays plus Independence Day and Labor Day with a coupon available at njtransit.com/summer. For jitney info and shore activities, go to visitmonmouth.com.
Six Flags Great Adventure or Hurricane Harbor: Save up to $51 by purchasing round-trip bus transportation and park admission together. NJ TRANSIT provides express bus service to Six Flags from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, Newark Penn Station, Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal and the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden.
Monmouth Park: Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system and save up to $6.00 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack. Simply purchase a round-trip package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Monmouth Park”) or at ticket windows, and receive Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $1 plus round-trip train fare.
For details on NJ TRANSIT’s Summer Services and customer discounts, visit njtransit.com/summer.
Important July 4th Commuter information : Bus Route 163 – Detour in Ridgewood
June 27, 2012
On Wednesday, July 4th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Paramus Road and Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood will be closed from Paramus Road and Grove Street to the Ridgewood Bus Terminal due to a parade and festival. During this time, Bus Route No. 163 will operate on a detour.
Buses traveling toward Ridgewood will travel from Paramus Road and Grove Street, make a left at Grove Street, right on Prospect Street, right on Dayton Street. Customers will board and discharge at the church across from the terminal.
Buses traveling toward New York will travel from the Ridgewood Terminal , continue on Dayton Street, make a right on Maple Avenue, left on Prospect Street, left on Grove Street, right on Paramus Road and proceed on the regular route.
We regret any inconvenience this may cause. For further information, please call NJ TRANSIT at 1 (973) 275-5555.
Christie orders special legislative session, pushing tax-relief plan
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012
BY MELISSA HAYES AND STEPHANIE AKIN
STAFF WRITERS
THE RECORD
Governor Christie got his restructuring of higher education and mandatory drug treatment for non-violent offenders through the Legislature. But he didn’t get his 10 percent income tax cut, and so on Saturday he demanded that legislators get back to work.
He ordered them to appear in Trenton on Monday for a special legislative session to consider his tax cut, a plan the governor has pitched across the state and at several Republican events across the country since he proposed it in January.
